Chapter 103_ Pregnant

“How are you related to the patient?” Doctor Smith asked.

"I am her best friend,” Chloe replied, and Doctor Smith nodded as he glanced between her and Nicholas.

“Then you must know him,” Doctor Smith said, nodding at Nicholas, and that was when Chloe realized that there was someone standing behind her, and she turned to look at him. She had been so worried about Arya that she didn't see either of the men standing there. Seeing that there were two, Chloe deduced that they must be the ones who had saved Arya and brought her to the hospital.

“Yes, they're—”

"Doctor, I think we should hurry up with the treatment,” Nicholas interrupted, cutting off Chloe’s words.

"What treatment?” Chloe asked, glancing between the doctor and Nicholas. The doctor went ahead to explain Arya's situation to Chloe, and her face suddenly paled, etched with worry for Arya. “Do the surgery, Doctor.”

“Are you sure about that?" Nicholas chimed in, now standing before Chloe.

Chloe nodded. “Yes. I know Arya very well; she would never be able to stand having a scar on her arm. Going for the surgery seems best as it would leave less of a mark and heal better.”

“Alright, sign here," the doctor said, handing Chloe a medical file; she took it from him and signed.

“Will she be alright, Doctor?" Chloe asked after signing the papers and handed them back to the doctor.

“Apart from the elbow injury and concussion, there should be no major problems. But she needs to be hospitalized for a few days of recovery and observation after the surgery; that way we can ensure both of their safety,” the doctor said, and Chloe's brows pulled together.

“Both?" she repeated, raising her brows.

Realizing that they might have no idea about the pregnancy, the doctor explained, “Yes. While conducting some tests on the patient, we found out that she was pregnant. She's five weeks along; it's a miracle the baby survived. Go through the relevant procedures with the nurse,” Doctor Smith revealed and entered the emergency room, leaving behind a stunned Chloe.

“P-Pregnant. Arya is pregnant?" Chloe stuttered, stumbling back while Fred immediately went to her side, shielding her from falling.

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“Mmm." Arya groaned slightly as she opened her eyes, but closed them again when the brightness almost blinded her. After a moment, her amber eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in her surroundings. She turned her head to the side, and that was when she saw someone lying beside her; he was seated on a chair with his head lowered on her hospital bed.

‘Where am I?’ Arya mused and looked down at her clothing and saw that she was dressed as a patient. The antiseptic smell in the air and the beeping machine indicated that she was in the hospital, but how did she get here? Arya wondered. As she tried to sit up, the man beside her woke up due to her actions, and Arya froze, her amber eyes staring at the man's black eyes.

“You're awake? Thank God!" Nicholas said, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Who are you?" Arya asked, looking curiously at the man.

“Hi. I am Nicholas Jones, the CEO of Nicholas Group of Companies,” he said, and Arya’s eyes widened in realization as a throbbing headache hit her and her memories came crashing down: the company, traveling to Italy, the three managers, the bar, and the reason that actually led her to be confined in the hospital. “Are you okay?" Nicholas asked when he saw her face contorted with pain.

“What are you doing here? Where is Chloe?" Arya asked, almost glaring at the man.

Nicholas cocked his brow at her and commented, “Is that how you talk to your savior?"

“What do you mean?" Arya asked.

“I saved you, Arya," Nicholas said and went on to recount the night her accident took place, and how he had come across her car, and with the help of his assistant, they had brought her to the hospital.

Arya lowered her head, and then after a moment of silence, she raised her head, meeting Nicholas's gaze. “I am sorry for my earlier reaction to you. I'm just surprised to see you here. Thank you for saving me; I don't know how I can repay you."

“There is a way, Arya.” Nicholas said, and when Arya raised her brow at him, he continued, “You can repay me by getting married to me."

"What?!” Arya exclaimed, her eyes widening at the man's words.

“Get married to me, Arya. That's the repayment I want for saving your life and that of your baby," Nicholas said, his words making Arya's eyes pop wide open as she stared at him, frozen.

After a stretched moment of silence between them, Arya stammered, her heart racing fast in her chest. “B-Ba-by?"

"Yes, Arya. You are pregnant,” Nicholas revealed, and before he could say anything else, Chloe walked into the ward and, sensing the tense atmosphere between Arya and Nicholas, she turned to him with a glare.

"What did you do?" Chloe seethed. She had thought Nicholas would back off after saving Arya, but no, he kept visiting, saying he wouldn't leave until Arya had recovered. Chloe knew he was up to something, but she didn't know what he wanted to do, and seeing that it was him who saved Arya, she let him be but gave him a warning to keep his mouth shut and not pressure Arya with any issues when she woke up.

“Is it true, Chloe? Am I pregnant?" Arya asked, her voice barely audible in the room, but Chloe heard what she had said, then turned away from Nicholas. Chloe went to Arya's bed and pulled her into her arms.

“Yes, Arya. You are five weeks gone,” Chloe confirmed, and Arya's body shook; tears stung her eyes as she broke into a sob, making Chloe's heart clench painfully at seeing her hurting. She wished she could take Arya's pain away and beat up the bastard who had inflicted the pain on her.

“Arya…” Kane called out, and Arya, who could recognize that voice anywhere, felt her body trembling, and she buried her face deep in Chloe's chest. No, she didn't want to see him; she wasn't ready to confront what she had overheard, nor did she want Kane to see her in the condition she was in. She couldn't allow him to see how vulnerable she looked and how his actions had affected her.

“Arya, please hear me out,” Kane spoke again, running his hands through his black hair. He walked into the ward and didn't even notice Nicholas sitting on the sofa; his entire focus was on his Tigress on the bed, who curled herself up in Chloe's arms.